RESULTS
In previous legislative budget sessions, many of the fiscal ideas were provided by me and acted on by the Legislature. These different and new ideas for solutions to budget issues resulted in balancing the budget without raising your taxes.
I have been able to help make Wyoming’s pension plans financially sound. Wyoming’s pension system is rated as one of the best in the nation and is often rated #1. I developed a new, modern and equitable retirement plan for our volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians and Search and Rescue personnel which was passed by the Legislature. This helps to ensure that we have those services available, especially in a rural District such as ours.
I have consistently voted for your Second Amendment freedoms. I have received the National Rifle Association’s “A+” rating, the highest rating given, and its endorsement. That rating and endorsement is based on my actual support and votes for your rights.
I stopped the attempted raid on State employees’ benefits and was the main opponent against that attempt. This kept the employees benefits intact and saved employees their hard earned money.
I was able to defeat legislation that would have charged sales taxes on the meals provided at Senior Citizen Centers.
About 60% of the legislation I have championed has been at the request of you, the people of District. I will honor the trust you place in me by electing me.
State government needs to provide only a framework that is equitable to the citizens and businesses in Wyoming and then get out of the way and let them succeed and flourish. Government should be an aid to people and not a hindrance. It needs to only provide the minimum laws needed for them to have every opportunity to succeed.
I passed changes in banking regulations that now allow our neighborhood banks to loan money for home mortgages and other local needs.
During the COVID pandemic I was a key Legislator and leader in developing and enacting the CARES Act Money Business Relief Program for small businesses. This directly benefited numerous local businesses and helped them in uncertain economic situations.
I helped establish a savings account to provide for the replacement of the penitentiary when that time comes. The penitentiary stays in Rawlins.
I have protected the retirement of Wyoming employees by fighting against miss-guided legislation which would have increased contributions and reduced benefits for state employees and others in the retirement system. Those others include our great school teachers and 450+ entities in the State. I was successful in defeating the legislation.
I am the main contributor and proponent to revising WY’s “Forced Pooling” regulations (2020 HB14) which provide for an equitable approach between land owners, mineral owners, lease holders and production companies. Even the Governor has said this is one of the most important bills of the 2020 Session.
As Chairman of the Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee, I was personally able to STOP legislation which would have charged drivers with a road use tax. That tax would have charged drivers a tax based on the number of miles they drive and require reporting of the mileage to the government. I led the defeat of legislation which would have placed tolls on Interstate 80. I cannot and will not support charging a toll for people to use I-80 to go to and from work, or to buy groceries, or go to the mountains, or hunt and fish. It is my intent that those DO NOT happen on my watch.
I continue to work with the US Department of Energy to provide grants to Wyoming for high tech research which will enhance Wyoming’s economy. This includes meetings with the DOE representatives on coal issues and rare earth elements. Both of those are in abundance in Wyoming and have great importance for our future. I have had meetings with the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory. This includes leading edge research on using coal for products other than fuel. This effort was successful and grants have been provided to Wyoming for that work. The US DOE has even asked Wyoming to submit additional requests for mpre grant money. This will bring research and high tech industries to WY, expanding WY’s economy. These efforts have resulted in US DOE providing grants to Wyoming for research into producing rare earth elements from coal. Recently, a coal refinery was commissioned to produce unique products from coal. This will help our coal industry thrive for years to come.
I have advocated for and encouraged the development of STEM based industries in WY. I have worked directly with private companies to encourage them to locate in WY.
I was a key legislator in developing and implementing a program to place Wyoming Dept. of Forestry personnel in the Rawlins BLM office to assist with harvesting beetle-killed timber in the Medicine Bow National Forest. The program was so successful that it more than paid for itself and generated a profit. It has now been extended, at the request of the US Forest Service, to other national forests in Wyoming.
With your vote I will continue the work to represent you.